Fuse-plug.



PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904- H. R. SARGBNT.

FUSE PLUG.

APPLIGATIOH FILED MAR. 11, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

Fig.2.

MTNESSES Patented August 30, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FIFIQE.

HOWARD R. SARGENT, OF RUGBY, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRICCOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FUSE-PLUG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,113, dated August30, 1904.

Application filed March 11, 1903. Serial No. 147,356 (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD R. SARGENT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Rugby, WVarwickshire, England, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Fuse- Plugs, of which the following isaspecification.

The present invention relates to thermal cutouts, and more particularlyto the fuse-plug type of cut-outs.

There are on the market at the present time two forms of fuse-plugs, oneconsisting of a base of porcelain or other molded insulating materialhaving at one end a center and a side contact and a fuse soldered to thecontacts, the other consisting of an inclosing carrier provided withpairs of inner and outer contacts and a movable or cartridge fusecarried thereby. WVhen the fuse proper of the for mer kind has becomedestroyed, the entire plug is thrown away or else a large supply iscarried in reserve and the blown ones reshipped to the factory forrenewal. WVith the latter kind of fuse-plug, which was originallydesigned to effect a saving in renewals over the former kind, theremovable or cartridge fuse is usually thrown away when the fuse properhas become destroyed; but the original cost of the latter kind issomewhat greater than the former kind.

The object of my invention is to provide a highly-efiicient fuse-plugwhich may be manufactured and sold at substantially the same price asthe ordinary cartric'lge-fuses are sold.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichFigure 1 is a vertical axial section of a fuseplug and receptacleembodying one form of my invention, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe same.

The fuse-plug comprises a main shell A, consisting of a short section offiber tubing or other insulating material having its ends closed bymetallic caps 1 and 2, to the centers of which the fuse 3 is secured bysoldering or other means. The upper cap 1 has its cylindrical part of asize to closely fit the exterior of the shell A and is held thereon bypins 4 or other suitable engaging means. The lower edge of cap 1 carriesa flange 5, adapted to make contact with a terminal of the receptacle B.The lower cap 2 has its sides provided with screw-threads which areadapted to tightly engage internally with threads onthe lower end of theshell A and externally with a threaded contact-cup on the receptacle B.The outside of the upper cap 1 maybe provided with a covering 6, offiber or other insulation, which is held in place by a suitableadhesive. The shell A may be filled with lime or other absorbentmaterial 7.

The receptacle B is of porcelain or other suitable material and consistsof a circular base portion 10 and central boss 11, extending upwardtherefrom and having a cylindrical cavity and two external recesses 12and 13 on diametrically opposite sides, the former recess 12 beingconnected with the bottom of the central cavity in boss 11 through anaperture 1 1. A threaded contact-cup 15 is secured in the bottom of thecylindrical cavity by means of a conducting-strip 16, extending throughthe aperture 14 and a hole in the side of the cup 15 and held in placeby a screw 17, extending through the center of the base portion 10 andengaging a tapped hole in the strip 16. The outer end of the strip 16 isprovided with a binding-screw 18 for making contact with a mainconductor-wire. The recess 13 receives a conductor-strip 19, extendingfrom top to bottom of the boss portion 11 and held in position by ascrew 21, extending through the base 10 and engaging a tapped hole inthe strip. The lower end of the strip is provided with a binding-screw20, and the upper end joins a contact-ring 22, resting in a slightrecess at the top of the boss 11. It is apparent that the well-knownWestinghouse or Thomson and Houston connection could be employed forholding the fuse-plug contacts in engagement with the contacts of thereceptacle and that other changes might be made without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is-

l. The combination of a tubular shell of insulation, metal caps closingthe ends of said shell, one ofWhich is provided With a screwthread andthe other of which is partially covered by insulation, and a fusepassing through said shell and connected at its ends With said ca s.

The combination of a tubular shell of insulation, a metal cap for oneend of said shell provided with a screw-thread, a metal cap for theother end provided With a contact-flange, and a fuse connected at itsends to said caps.

3. The combination of a tubular shell of insulation, a metal cap for oneend of said shell provided With a screw-thread, a metal cap for theother end provided With a contact-flange and covered With insulation,and a fuse connected at its ends to said caps.

4E. The combination of a tubular shell of insulation, metal caps securedto the ends of said shell, one of said caps being provided With ascrew-thread and the other of Which is partially covered by insulation,a fuse connect ing said caps, and an absorbent powder filling theunoccupied space Within said shell.

